Mother Fatally Shoots Daughter, 3, on Florida Golf Course, Kills Self

A peaceful afternoon of golfing suddenly turned into tragedy after Florida duffers heard gunshots Tuesday and investigators found the bodies of a mother and her 3-year-old daughter shot dead at the edge of the course.

Leon County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. James McQuaig told the Associated Press golfers spotted the bodies and called police at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office says the mother and daughter lived in the Whispering Woods Apartment Complex, adjacent to the course. The bodies were found in a grassy area between the apartments and the course.

Based on evidence and witness statements, investigators determined that Jenna Porter fired the shots. They say the handgun used was found at the scene.

A preliminary autopsy conducted Wednesday indicates the two died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

According to Tallahassee.com, Porter was a single mother. McQuaig said investigators were not able to identify or contact the father of her child.

Porter was arrested twice in the past year on driving-related charges. In August of 2012 she was charged in driving with a suspended/revoked license and this year in January she received a DUI charge. Both cases were still open as of Wednesday evening.

"When I heard what happened, I just walked around because the back end of the golf course here and then I saw the deceased and it just stopped me in my place," neighbor Ray Parsons told WCTV. "It made me feel sad because she is lying on the ground and there's nothing she could do for herself ... and that's kind of shocking."

Police say the investigation is mostly complete, aside from the final autopsy results that authorities are awaiting.

“This is a terrible, tragic set of circumstances,” McQuaig said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those left behind because of this tragic set of circumstances.”

Neighbors said the incident was out of character for the southeast Tallahassee neighborhood.